Compare towns
Calais vs Reading vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Calais | Reading | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
25,612Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Reading | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.